Galileo FOC-7 & Galileo FOC-8

Mission

Galileo FOC-7 & Galileo FOC-8

Type: Communications

The 7th and 8th “Full Operational Capability” satellites will be the 11th and 12th Galileo satellites launched, alongside the 6 FOC and 4 IOV spacecraft already in orbit. The Galileo constellation is ESA’s satellite navigation system and is expected to be completed by 2020. Galileo will provide Europe with an alternative to the American GPS and Russian GLONASS constellations, but will be interoperable with both systems.

Location

Soyuz Launch Complex

Kourou, French Guiana

151 rockets have launched from Kourou, French Guiana.

Rocket

Soyuz STB

Length: 46.3 meters
Diameter: 2.95 meters
First Launch: October 21, 2011

The 2.1b version adds an upgraded engine (RD-0124) with improved performance to the second stage. First launch took place from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43 on 26 July 2008 with a classified military payload.

The 2.1b/ST version is sometimes called Soyuz ST-B.

The Soyuz STB rocket has been launched a total of 11 times with 10 successful and 1 failed launches.

Agency

Arianespace

Type: Commercial
Abbreviation: ASA
Administration: CEO: Stéphane Israël
Founded: 1980
Launchers: Ariane 5 | Vega

Country: FRA

Arianespace SA is a multinational company founded in 1980 as the world’s first commercial launch service provider. It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane programme. Their vehicles launch exclusively from French Guiana in South America.